Saddle Mountain and Cannon Beach

I went with some friends today on a mama hike up Saddle Mountain - 5.5 miles round trip, straight up and down on gravelly rock. There were still wildflowers along the whole length of the trail, a great diversity of orange, purple, white, yellow, and red. Unlike my last trip here, there were no views out to the coast (you can see Astoria and the mouth of the Columbia on a clear day), but there was a magical, fluffy pillow of clouds in every direction, blowing wisps all about. The day was gorgeous and the company lovely - so good.

Meanwhile, Anja's husband Luna picked up Steve, Seb, Liesl, and Camille, and drove everyone out to Cannon Beach. The children dug and piled and created a moat and retaining wall, keeping the ocean at bay. Anne, Anja, and I finished up the hike and then met them for lunch at Tom's Fish and Chips, and then returned to the beach for a while before driving home to Portland.